Glendale, Ariz.- The Firestorm secured a clean sweep on the weekend, going a perfect 4-0 in the 5th Annual Coach Calderone Invitational.
GAME INFO
Score - Arizona Christian 13, Oklahoma Panhandle State 2
Records - ACU 3-0 (0-0), OPSU 0-4 (0-0)
Location - Glendale High School - Glendale, AZ
Score - Arizona Christian 4, MidAmerica Nazarene 2
Records - ACU 4-0 (0-0), MNU 1-2 (0-0)
Location - Glendale High School - Glendale, AZ
STAT TRACKER
Inside the Box Score
After great showings this Thursday and Friday to start the year, the Firestorm continued an impressive start to the season with their play in a double header on Saturday, January 28th, 2023. The first game had the Firestorm at 2-0 facing off against the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University. ACU won 13-2 to get to 3-0 on the young season, with the top hitters being shortstop Enrique Porchas and center fielder Justin Ramirez each collecting two hits. Starting pitcher Jackson Hohensee got the third straight ACU starting pitcher victory to start the year by going 5 innings and just giving up two runs. In all three of their first games ACU has scored above 10 runs, scoring an impressive 49 runs in those three games. In game two of the double header at Glendale high school ACU played MidAmerica Nazarene University. Unlike the first three Firestorm baseball contests in the Coach Calderone Invitational, this game was quite the pitching duel. The impressive showing on the mound was from the starter Eli Elliott who went 6 2/3 giving up just one run and collecting the fourth straight starting pitcher victory for the Firestorm. With the game tied 1-1 in the 6 th inning, Justin Ramirez came up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. He hit a double, scoring three runs. The Firestorm bullpen would get the last 7 outs with Riley Quintin getting a four out save and ACU winning all four games of the season opening Invitational. The Firestorm will now go to Lakeland Florida next week as they play four different top 25 NAIA baseball teams.
Thoughts from Coach McDonald:
"Today was a great day for the ACU Baseball Family and a great way to finish off a successful week honoring one of my best friends and former ACU Coach Dave Calderone. All four wins were being celebrated in heaven. Babushka."
Next for the Firestorm
ACU Baseball will look ahead to a tough schedule next week as they head to Florida to compete in the first NAIA Ball East/West Challenge. There they'll take on #1 Southeastern, #25 Keiser, #8 St. Thomas, and #4 LSU-Shreveport. Next week will be a true challenge for the Firestorm and a great look ahead to potential Lewiston matchups. The next ACU home game will be February 8th against Midland University at Glendale high school at 6:00 pm Arizona time.
Roll Storm!
